Page 37 of Jewel of the Alien Bandit
“So you seek the Ordin Crystal as well,” Luan sounded exhausted. We needed to speed this along. The sooner she reached her moons, the sooner she could heal.
“A wise leader.” Genbi turned, and kneeled before Luan with his long braid held aloft for her. “Do you accept my proposal? I will not force your trade agreements. Only a fair, and reasonable exchange of goods. Your lands can heal, and we will both profit. A percentage of the profits will be given to Necias as a tithing for crossing their planet, but they will not pressure you to give more than your planet can give, nor will you be forced to mate with me or any other, you have my word.”
“How do you know so much about what my planet needs? And how am I supposed to trust a smuggler of your repute?” Luan was unconvinced, and folded her arms to restrain herself from doing something she’d regret. As someone brought up to be diplomatic, she was probably unaccustomed to the feeling of wanting to harm another person for dealings that were not within her moral compass.
Genbi remained still while he replied, “I deal with many of questionable repute, and as such they test my Lordship of Zorn, when given the opportunity. Keeping my title has been unpleasant at times, Princess. Change does not come as quick as one would hope. Darkness does not live without the light, nor does light live without darkness, and there is always someone who seeks to tip the balance.”
Luan scoffed, but took Genbi’s offered braid in her hand. Being a future Almder she probably learned about the unGor customs. “My planet is not defenseless.”
“And there are worse threats out there than Necias, Princess. King Sylve is merely trying to protect our star system, as much as I am, but in his own way.”
“The trill…” she huffed out, and I couldn’t let this drag out any longer. I wrapped my hand around hers as it clutched Genbi’s braid loosely. My skin tingled at the touch, and I snapped my hand back.
“We should get going,” I suggested.
Luan pressed his braid to Genbi’s chest, and released it. “I, Luan, future Almder of Estreldez, open discussion of trade with only you, the current Lord Zorn, should you return me and Vareo to my planet unharmed.” My face went blank with her adjustment to the terms. She included me in her conditions.
“You can’t,” I tried to prevent the agreement.
Lord Zorn accepted, before I could say another word.
“Undo it,” I pleaded with Genbi, “She doesn’t understand what she is asking.”
Now, Luan was staring at me confused.
“You weren’t planning on coming with me?” she asked absently, a hollowness to her tone.
I shook my head. “I can’t stay with you, if you are to be safe. I am, as King Sylve stated before, one of the last of the shols. He won’t allow me to leave. My only escape is to disappear from this star system. If I go with you…”
She finished my thought, “The king will come for you, and demand your return.” Luan nodded her assent. “So be it. As I said before, my planet is not defenseless, the moons will defend us, and King Sylve already has Estreldez surrounded. You staying out of it doesn’t do either of us any good.”
Lord Zorn stood tall, and smiled at her. I felt like punching his teeth in, but it was Luan’s words that finally processed in my mind, stopping me from doing something stupid. She was willing to fight for me, for my freedom, and keep me close. Wasthis the reaction of her loh drawing me in? As damaged as they were, could I still be affected by her radiation?
The warmth that filled me to my heart would say yes, and this overwhelming urge to have her claim me as her customs suggested, had me smiling instead of fighting my old friend. Would she do just that when she was healed by her planet’s moons? The thought reminded me of how much she looked like a goddess with her mating loh fully extended, and if she were to show them only for me I would not care that this was all because of her radiation spreading through me, as long as this feeling never ended. But, I couldn’t let her put herself in danger for me.
“You must let me leave this star system, if for no other reason than splitting King Sylve’s attention, and resources.”
Genbi watched me curiously, and placed his palm on the door's scanner before deciding to give his unsolicited thoughts on the matter, “You’d only be a small distraction, and without the scientist you told me about, you’d be back on Necias before long.”
“Not if–” I began, only to stop myself immediately. Genbi lifted a brow, and I realized I had almost given away what I was planning for myself, in front of Luan. She’d never accept it. The only way to disappear from King Sylve would be to join the slaves, but I couldn’t be sure I’d ever escape, or find another way to be free. At least I wouldn’t be used against Luan, nor would I be a weakness in her upcoming fight against the Necia.
I couldn’t keep my promise. The scientist, Kensie, was still with King Sylve, and it would be up to Lord Zorn to help both Luan and Kensie escape.
“Not if what?” Luan was glaring at me, and I didn’t like seeing her upset. The weariness of her injuries were more prominent when she narrowed her silver eyes. We had delayed long enough.
“Not if Lord Zorn can arrange for the scientist to join me, and safely remove my tracker bots.” I hoped Genbi understood what I was asking of him, without spelling it out. He knew I would join the slaves, and wouldn’t want Kensie to follow that path.
“This scientist can’t be the only one capable of removing your tracking device, or blocking its signals,” Luan wasn’t buying it. She spun on Lord Zorn and, like the ruler she would become, she faced him down and threatened his pride. “Are you to have me believe you are incapable of blocking his tracker, or removing it, when you are in charge of smuggling lives?”
Instead of being offended Genbi laughed and smacked me on my back in a brotherly manner. “Stop your foolishness, Vareo. Your mate has spoken, and she will not be swindled by your misplaced sacrifice.”
My mouth flattened into a blank expression. He had called her my mate. the very thought had my insides warm, but she had not claimed me. So how did he know my feelings so clearly? More importantly, Luan said nothing to dissuade him from his assumptions. I brimmed with temporary contentment at the acceptance.
We passed by Genbi’s guards in the hallway, and he led us towards his personal offices, away from the processing centers. Luan wouldn’t wish to see those, and I was still thinking about what he had said, watching Luan as she followed him ahead of me. Not once turning back to glance at me. She did not agree with Genbi’s assessment, and my stomach twisted with a cold sensation as my doubts grew, knowing she would eventually correct the mistake.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Luan
